Thursday, December 30, 2010

Two Hats

I know I've said it before, but I am such a small accessories knitter. Cowls, hats, shawlettes, mittens, not-too-complicated scarves? I am so there, with bells on. Sweaters--ok, I'll give them a go once in a while just to keep it real. Please note that I DO NOT consider socks to be small accessories. They are the work of Satan himself their own category, mmkay? And I will never knit them again. Got it? Right.These two hats were completed right before the Junior Texting Dream Team hit the skies on a flight to Dublin that when it left, was headed to an airport that was open but then closed like 5 minutes after it took off. Nothing like being told by a nonchalant, callous airline employee that your kids are on a flight that "...might be diverted to another European city, or circle the airport and land somewhere else." Commence plotzing in 3...2... [...]. Luckily the airport briefly reopened and their flight managed to land but not before I learned the joys of real time tracking of trans-Atlantic airline flights combined with copious amounts of vodka.The SpecsPattern: Star-Crossed Slouchy Beret by Natalie LarsonYarn: Malabrigo Worsted in 'Pearl'Needles: 10.5 + 11 addi turbosMods: None

Pattern: Hineri by Olga JazzyYarn: Rowan Cocoon, 1 skein in 'Lavender Ice'. Perfect yarn of this project!Needles: 8 + 9 addi turbosMods: None, but I ended up ripping it out at least three times due to my inability to read all the way through a pattern.For all the colorwork knitting I do (and OH MAN do I have something to show you very soon), I still love a good solid colored hat as much as the next person. So stylish and easy to match with a variety of coats, right? Both of these hats were easy and can thus be classified in the 'knit while watching the idiot box' category. My only word of warning relates to the Hineri pattern--the cables are BEYOND tight, so if you have a larger head, this garment might be a tad too snug for your big Irish noggin'.

While the girls have been gone, we've taken to throwing their shit out rearranging. After an hour or two of gathering the family hand knits, I had amassed this gigantic box. I must say it was a thrill to see some of these again. Ufserud! December Lights tam! Such a pleasure to see you again, I hope your time behind the cookbook shelf wasn't too dusty and unpleasant, welcome back to permanent rotation. The large collection here requires desperate measures, so yesterday I went to Ikea (i.e. where previous lower back injuries are reactivated) and got a storage bench for these beauties. So this is what I'll be watching The Curmudgeon do on New Year's Eve. I hope you all have similarly thrilling plans!

I actually shuddered when I read "IKEA." I love IKEA, but assembling their furniture makes me want to cry. I've done quite a bit of it, and it's still an ordeal. I have spatial orientation issues, and those visual instructions kill me. I'll spare a moment tonight for a little sympathy for the Curmudgeon.

You ARE the queen of small knits. Enjoy your time off from the teen drama. And can't wait to see what you've got lined up next (I think I can guess that it's the same thing that I got lined up, if I can ever post again on my poor, abandoned blog).

Hello and Greetings from West Virginia. I agree with your socks comment... as I try and finish 2 different pairs. Why do I even start them. I've discovered a wonderful Yarn Shop in Cumberland MD. Millicent's ~ I think you would love it. Suzanne

I am right there with you on the small accessories train. Such happy knitting -- chance to try out new yarns without major commitment, successful completion follows enthusiastic start in such short order. Lucky family to have a person like you around!

Happy 2011! What is the name of the storage bench you got? (I'm sure it's something like Snertdam or Fitsturd.) I am in desperate need of winterwear storage. I have more winter accessories than should be legal, and they need to be corralled.